GROUND CONTROL

50. Ralph Bach

Opera In Space

Ralph Bach grew up in suburban New Jersey and graduated from Columbia High School (South Orange) in 1949. In high school Ralph was active in athletics, and played trumpet in the concert band, orchestra, and dance band. He went on to Lehigh University, majoring in electrical engineering, and graduating with a BSEE in 1953. In college he continued his participation in athletic and music activities.

After graduation Ralph took a job with the General Electric Co., spending more than a year training at several locations in the northeast before accepting a position at the Instrument Department in Lynn, MA. During this early-career period he began taking evening graduate courses. In1956 Ralph joined the Electrical Engineering Faculty at Northeastern University in Boston where he divided his time between teaching and research. At Northeastern he earned an MSEE (1958) and PhD (1964).

Ralph Bach grew up in suburban New Jersey and graduated from Columbia High School (South Orange) in 1949. In high school Ralph was active in athletics, and played trumpet in the concert band, orchestra, and dance band. He went on to Lehigh University, majoring in electrical engineering, and graduating with a BSEE in 1953. In college he continued his participation in athletic and music activities.

After graduation Ralph took a job with the General Electric Co., spending more than a year training at several locations in the northeast before accepting a position at the Instrument Department in Lynn, MA. During this early-career period he began taking evening graduate courses. In1956 Ralph joined the Electrical Engineering Faculty at Northeastern University in Boston where he divided his time between teaching and research. At Northeastern he earned an MSEE (1958) and PhD (1964).

While spending a year as Visiting Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA in 1970, Ralph began collaborating with researchers at Ames Research Center (Moffett Field). This eventually led to a civil-service position with NASA in 1977. Ralph’s research interests at NASA included devising methods for analyzing aircraft flight data, design of GPS-INS flight navigation systems, and development of air-traffic automation tools. He is an author or co-author of more than 80 technical papers and publications

Ralph retired from Government Service in 2002 but continues to work part-time as a contractor with an air-traffic control group at Ames. He remains engaged in musical activities, serving as player-manager of the Ames Jazz Band and Combo and also plays in community orchestras. He is an enthusiastic cyclist, riding roads and forest trails. Ralph lives in Mountain View CA with Dorothy, his domestic partner. Together they enjoy cycling, skiing, and hiking in the western states, and cycling in Europe.

While spending a year as Visiting Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA in 1970, Ralph began collaborating with researchers at Ames Research Center (Moffett Field). This eventually led to a civil-service position with NASA in 1977. Ralph’s research interests at NASA included devising methods for analyzing aircraft flight data, design of GPS-INS flight navigation systems, and development of air-traffic automation tools. He is an author or co-author of more than 80 technical papers and publications

Ralph retired from Government Service in 2002 but continues to work part-time as a contractor with an air-traffic control group at Ames. He remains engaged in musical activities, serving as player-manager of the Ames Jazz Band and Combo and also plays in community orchestras. He is an enthusiastic cyclist, riding roads and forest trails. Ralph lives in Mountain View CA with Dorothy, his domestic partner. Together they enjoy cycling, skiing, and hiking in the western states, and cycling in Europe.

International Space Orchestra’s member: Ralph Bach is playing trumpet and is the director of the Ames Jazz Band